BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course
Redeem
Featured Course
Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.
The starting and ending numbers wouldn't necessarily have to be odd though. For example (4,5,6) mean =5, (4,6) mean=5. The key ,as you mention, is that removing a number from a set of numbers will always change the mean unless that number is exactly equal to the mean itself. But the mean will only be an element of the set if we have an odd number of consecutive integers, so that is only a possibility if n is odd.shankar.ashwin wrote:A IMO
If k=m, the only possibility I can think of it the set starting with 1 (or any add number) and ending in a odd number and the number removed is the mean itself.
For eg: (1,2,3) mean = 2. Now if 2 is removed the set becomes (1,3) with mean = 2
Similarly consider (1,2,3,4,5) mean = 3. With 3 removed the set becomes (1,2,4,5) with mean = 3
(or) (3,4,5) etc
Therefore, for such a condition the set should contain 'odd' number of consecutive integers.
(2) doesn't give much info,
Hi GmatMathPro, can you explain this?GmatMathPro wrote:But the mean will only be an element of the set if we have an odd number of consecutive integers, so that is only a possibility if n is odd.
The mean of a set of consecutive integers is always equal to the median. If we have an odd number of consecutive integers, the median and mean will both be the integer in the middle. For example, 4,5,6,7,8: The median and mean is 6. However, if we have an even number of consecutive integers, such as 5,6,7,8, then the median and mean is the average of the two middle numbers, 6.5, but 6.5 is not in the set of numbers. To have a middle number, we have to have an odd number of consecutive integers. If we have an even number of consecutive integers, the mean will always be the average of the two middle numbers, which will never be an integer, and hence cannot be an element of the set of consecutive integers.apex231 wrote:Hi GmatMathPro, can you explain this?GmatMathPro wrote:But the mean will only be an element of the set if we have an odd number of consecutive integers, so that is only a possibility if n is odd.
Thanks!
GmatMathPro wrote:The mean of a set of consecutive integers is always equal to the median. If we have an odd number of consecutive integers, the median and mean will both be the integer in the middle. For example, 4,5,6,7,8: The median and mean is 6. However, if we have an even number of consecutive integers, such as 5,6,7,8, then the median and mean is the average of the two middle numbers, 6.5, but 6.5 is not in the set of numbers. To have a middle number, we have to have an odd number of consecutive integers. If we have an even number of consecutive integers, the mean will always be the average of the two middle numbers, which will never be an integer, and hence cannot be an element of the set of consecutive integers.apex231 wrote:Hi GmatMathPro, can you explain this?GmatMathPro wrote:But the mean will only be an element of the set if we have an odd number of consecutive integers, so that is only a possibility if n is odd.
Thanks!
Does that help?
shankar.ashwin wrote:A IMO
If k=m, the only possibility I can think of it the set starting with 1 (or any add number) and ending in a odd number and the number removed is the mean itself.
For eg: (1,2,3) mean = 2. Now if 2 is removed the set becomes (1,3) with mean = 2
Similarly consider (1,2,3,4,5) mean = 3. With 3 removed the set becomes (1,2,4,5) with mean = 3
(or) (3,4,5) etc
Therefore, for such a condition the set should contain 'odd' number of consecutive integers.
(2) doesn't give much info,
Yeah Pete mentioned that previously aswell.. I clearly didn't check for all possibilities. The answer remains the same, I'll probably edit my post.karthikpandian19 wrote:Ashwin,
I had tried this and it is not required that the integers set need to end with ODD number. Either way it works
New here Create free account
